Sunak hikes sky-high taxes on your domestic flights – but not his own private jets

Out-of-touch Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is well-known for his use of private jets, including racking up a bill of over £500,000 in the space of less than two weeks.

Now his high-flying lifestyle is clearly starting to affect his judgement – and his Government’s policies.

Despite the cost-of-living crisis, which will see more people considering holidays in the UK rather than going abroad, the Tories are putting forward plans to hike taxes on domestic flights for normal commercial passengers, while those in private jets won’t see any tax rise at all.

Private helicopter journeys – another form of transport favoured by jet-setting Sunak – are also set to see a tax freeze.

Sunak’s elitist preferences aren’t just a perk of the job. Research last year found that Sunak takes taxpayer-funded private flights inside the UK every eight days – more than previous Tory PMs Liz Truss, Boris Johnson and Theresa May.

That means he wants regular taxpayers to pay more on their own flights to fund his extravagant excess.

The facts

The Government’s Finance Bill, which will be debated in Parliament this week, will increase the tax on all domestic air travel within the UK, expect for those passengers who fly by helicopter or private jet, whose will see a tax freeze.

Last year, the Government introduced new tax bands for flights within the UK, which saw passengers in economy seats pay £6.50 a ticket, and those in premium economy and business pay £13 a ticket. Now, those rates are increasing to £7 and £14 respectively – but the band for private jet journeys is frozen, while helicopters are totally exempt.

This gobsmacking hypocrisy shows once again that Rishi Sunak is out of touch and simply can’t understand the concerns of the ordinary voters he claims to represent.

See for yourself

Air Passenger Duty rates:

2024/25 (proposed rates by the current Finance Bill): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-air-passenger-duty-rates-from-1-april-2024/increases-to-air-passenger-duty-rates-from-1-april-2024

2023/24: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/air-passenger-duty-banding-reforms-from-april-2023/air-passenger-duty-banding-reforms-and-rates-from-1-april-2023-to-31-march-2024

2022/23 and before: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rates-and-allowances-for-air-passenger-duty-historic-rates